THE seventh Judgement Day matches between the Welsh regions ended with one side guaranteed to still be in the top-tier of European competition next season.

At least the embarrassment of missing out on top-rank European competition next year was avoided for the world’s second highest-ranked nation and Six Nations’ Grand Slam winners.

The 51,000 fans in the Millennium Stadium were treated to two thrilling games, with many of the Grand Slam side’s players appearing for their regions.

Osprey’s George North and Alun Wyn Jones both appeared for the first time since the victory over Ireland a month ago, and Scarlet’s Lions and Wales full back Leigh Halfpenny continued his comeback.

But what was evident from the day’s proceedings was the lack of intensity on display in contrast to the performances under national head coach Warren Gatland.

A controversial victory for the Osprey’s over Cardiff Blues has set-up a European Champions Cup play-off tie against Scarlets at the Liberty Stadium in May.

But Osprey’s head coach Allen Clarke was a relieved man after the Blues were denied a penalty try by referee Nigel Owens after Dan Evans was yellow-carded for a deliberate knock-on.

“Quality and mentality won us that game, particularly in the second half when we played 20 minutes of it with just 14 men.

“That tells you a lot about the group as a whole. It was a massive shift from the boys on the field and I thought our tight five were magnificent.”

But opposite number John Mulvihill was furious after the match claiming the Blues should have had two tries. 

Nick Williams was adjudged to have impeded Ospreys centre Owen Watkin in the build-up to what looked like a good try by replacement scrum-half Tomos Williams.

The flash point though was the inexplicable decision by Owens not to award a penalty try despite sin-binning Evans for a deliberate knock-on.

The referee felt the play was too far out from the line, but Mulvihill vehemently disagreed with the decision.

“I thought Nigel was going to award it, but there was obviously a lot of talk in his ear from the TMOs and the touch judges.

“We clearly had three players in and around the ball and their nearest player was George North, who was 15 metres away, and Tomos had about 25 metres to run, so that’s disappointing for us.”

Wales fly-half Gareth Anscombe played his last match for the Blues before joining Ospreys and scored18 points from full-back with a superb try and five successful kicks.

Anscombe missed the penalty awarded instead of a penalty try and that allowed the streetwise Ospreys to take the match with a penalty in the closing minute.

Davies slotted the crucial kick to set up a shootout with west Wales rivals the Scarlets.

Newport Gwent Dragons provided the upset of the day with their first Judgement Day victory with a two-point victory over the misfiring Scarlets.

Josh Lewis opened the scoring with two penalties before Wales wing Hallam Amos, playing in his last Dragons game before joining Cardiff Blues next season, was yellow-carded for a deliberate knock-on.

Scarlets took advantage of their numerical advantage with two tries and 12 points while Amos was off the field.

Scarlets led 17-6 at half-time and seemed to be cruising towards the bonus-point victory they were seeking.

But in a stunning second-half the Dragons recorded 21 points in nine minutes with 14 points scored while Scarlets were reduced to 14 players.

Scarlets responded with the bonus-point try from Wales centre Jonathan Davies before winger Johnny McNicholl went over for his second score.

Halfpenny converted to give his side the lead again before adding a penalty to increase the advantage to five points.

A dramatic final five minutes saw the Dragons hit the Scarlets with relentless waves of possession with a jubilant lock Matthew Screech crossing for his second try.

But the decision to award the winning try was only made after a five-minute delay while successive replays ruled out a knock-on and confirming the forward had reached the line.

With the Scarlets needing to retain possession from the kick-off to score the three points needed for the win fly-half Rhys Patchell’s drop-goal attempt went wide.

The jubilant Dragons celebrated their first league win away from Rodney Parade since March 2015.

A euphoric 26-year-old Screech was clearly still ecstatic after his side’s victory and told the Star he was “over the moon.”

“At half-time we felt our set-piece was going well and we just came out and played in the second-half,” Screech said.

Welsh regional rugby is going through the doldrums at the moment, despite the national side’s success, and the attendance for the seventh Judgement Day reflected that with the lowest ever attendance, down 12,000 on last year. 

Despite the disappointing numbers the crowd were treated to rugby innovation with new technology allowing the rugby posts to light up green or red to indicate a successful or missed kick.

Gimmicks aside, Welsh regional rugby union is falling behind and needs to rejuvenate itself if it is to have players competing against the best sides on a regular basis.